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Another simple day of Trailblazing, done. Me, March 7th, and Himeko headed into the Astral Express to report back our findings and discoveries. Pompom chatted it up with the two girls, and I headed into the hallway, towards my room.
However, Dan Heng exited out of the room as I walked past.
“Caelus? I see you're back already. I expected you guys to be gone for quite some time, knowing that the group of you guys go out for so long.” Dan Heng spoke, initiating a conversation.
How weird, Dan Heng rarely finds the time for lively conversation, he's always quiet and thinking. “Oh, yeah! It was a short expedition, I wouldn't want to leave you alone for too long ahaha..” I joked around, smiling at him.
“Oh..? I did not expect you to worry about me, how kind. I have other matters to tend to now, bye Caelus. I'm glad the Trailblazing was enjoyable.” And just like that, Dan Heng walked right past me, off to do whoever knows what.
But… why must he keep doing this? He keeps cutting our conversations short. There never seems to be an actual moment between us, Dan just gives out a few dialogues and then leaves.
I look over at Dan's room, feeling intrigued to go inside. What could he be further hiding? So I stepped into the room, looking around. Everything was in it's rightful place, even organized to the very utmost neatness. My room could never live up to these conditions I thought, letting out a soft chuckle.
Looking around the room, I try to search for anything of interest. His bed was clear, with a few plushies that he had been gifted from March. I looked at his desk, there were scripts of writing in pen, in Japanese. He was very fluid with his writing, it would impress just about anyone. His walls were well designed, with shelves of various flowers and plants that he does an excellent job of tending for.
I look over, and finally something catches my eye. It's Dan Heng's cellphone, I almost thought he didn't have one, or just didn't use it. I picked it up, and noticed it was already unlocked. Curiously, I went through his recent contacts..
“What are you doing, Caelus?”
I jumped, setting the phone back down as I turned to the voice of whoever spoke, and of course it was Dan himself. I couldn't even get a good glimpse of whoever he contacted last, the snooping operation was a fail.
“I'm sorry Dan Heng, I was only just.. I only wanted to see what keeps you so preoccupied.” I explained, telling him the truth. There was no point in lying to him.
Dan Heng, however, still gave me a scornful look. “You shouldn't do that, it's very disrespectful to look through somebody's private things. But.. how come you intend to involve yourself with it?” He questioned me, crossing his arms.
“Involve myself with you? Why.. You're my friend Dan Heng! I know plenty about everyone else, but you always come across as a mystery on the Express..”
Dan Heng shifted his contact elsewhere at the mention of “friend”. He took a moment to compose, closing his eyes. “You mustn't infatuate yourself in my problems. It isn't right, and after all.. you are a weapon of annihilation, a Stellaron. The difference between us is apparent, is it not? So please, won't you leave my room for the time being?” Dan Heng implored me, attempting to consult me.
Moving my attention over to his phone in the middle of his lecture, I peered at it and realized that, in fact, someone had been contacting him. Someone by the name of Luocha. I make a quick mental note, before finally exiting Dan's room like he requested.
Luocha…? But what business would they have together? Surely, it should be nothing more than just work and labor for Dan Heng.
I pondered on in my head, before heading into my room. I sit on my bed, scrolling on my phone and playing games, a normal thing I would do after a long day of Trailblazing. March would enter inside a bit after, holding a bag in her hand.
“Caelus! I bought the food and other supplies that you requested, and I even snuck some goodies in there!” March 7th would smile at me, holding up the bag. Her smile was like a chain reaction, if she smiled, others would smile too.
“That's kind of you March! Did you get anything else for the others?” I ask politely, getting up and taking the bag of her hands. She nodded her head, giving me a thumbs up. She began to chat about pictures she had taken and recent events across the Express.
From the corner of my eye as I listened to March's yapping, I could see Dan Heng standing by his room and watching the interaction between me and March. He looked defensive, turning the other way and walking down the hall and out of my sights.
He looked.. stoic. Unhappy, even..?
The moment made me a little saddened, watching Dan act so differently towards me. A weapon of destruction and obliteration… is that what he truly thought I was?
March was quick to notice my sudden change in demeanor, and I quickly brushed it off, thanking her once again for the thoughtful gifts before bidding a small goodbye to each other. I still thought about Dan, and it was inevitable to not do so as I cooked up some food in my room and ate as I watched a movie in my room, in solitude.
It was getting especially late, around 11:47 in the evening.. and the movie had already been finished, rolling the credits. I wasn't even the slightest bit tired, my brain kept putting those images of Dan in my head.. why?
Right as I stood up from my bed and began to clean up, I heard a clatter from outside. It must have come from the hallway, maybe Welt was up making coffee again? I quietly opened my door, and to my surprise, I saw him.
Dan Heng was stepping silently out of the hallway, heading towards.. the parlor car? Why would he be leaving the Express at this hour? This was unlike Dan, and so I grabbed my bat and pursued, following him from a distance.
I followed him for some time, teleporting through areas that he had teleported through, thanks to the anchors that were commonly littered around every map. I ended up in The Xianzhou Luofu, where Dan heng continued to walk forth. It wasn't long before he stopped at a small, secluded part in one of the towns.
This time, I stopped as well and made sure I was as unnoticeable as I could be so that I could watch anything go down and be able to step in at any given point.
Luocha had appeared, approaching Dan Heng and watching their mouths move. I couldn't comprehend what they were saying from afar, but I noticed how Luocha rested his hand on Dan’s shoulder, smiling. Dan looked.. perplexed yet compliant, they continued to speak before… they kissed.
I watched, but I didn't want to. There was nothing I could do in this situation, the only thing I could comprehend was Dan's words rang in my head like a loud, eery bell. He called me what I loathed to be called.. a monster.
I couldn't bear to look any longer, my only thought being getting back to the Express as soon as possible. I ran out of the town, however I was introduced to a fleet of mara-struck. It was a very bad time, as I slammed my bat against them and tried to weaken them as much as I can, before hearing 2 pairs of footsteps approaching my way.
“Who's out there? Is everything fine?”
It was Luocha's voice, and I just had to escape mid-battle. Regrettably at this moment, loot didn't mean more than anything right now and I had to dash out of there, and used an anchor that was nearby to teleport out of there and to the Astral Express.
Thankfully Dan Heng and Luocha couldn't catch up to me, and I raced to my bedroom as quickly as I could. Why did that happen? Are they together? My heartstrings tugged at the thought, as if the Stellaron inside of me flickered with a stinge of hurt. I would ask myself a deeper question, but..
Why am I so affected by him?